Each hearing office (HO) has jurisdiction over a designated geographic
area referred to as the HO's “service area.” The HO will
generally process all requests for hearing (RH) for claimants residing in
that area. In general, hearings will be held within 75 miles of the
claimant's home.

NOTE:

Under certain circumstances, the Social Security Administration (SSA) can
reimburse a claimant, representative, or un-subpoenaed witness for travel
expenses if the distance between the hearing site and the person's
residence or office, whichever he or she travels from, is more than 75
miles. See Hearings, Appeals and Litigation Law (HALLEX) manual
I-2-3-13 for more information
about reimbursement. For reimbursement issues for a claimant who does not
reside in the United States, see HALLEX
I-2-0-72 E.

When an HO receives an RH, the HO staff will screen the RH to determine if
the HO has jurisdiction, i.e., whether the claimant's address is in the
geographic area the HO serves. If the HO does not have jurisdiction, the
HO staff will forward the RH to the HO that has jurisdiction.

If the claimant did not object to appearing by VTC and the claimant
notifies SSA of a change in residence address that falls under the
jurisdiction of another HO, using the instructions in HALLEX
I-2-3-10 A.1., the
ALJ will schedule the claimant's appearance by VTC whenever possible. When
an ALJ determines an in person hearing may be appropriate and the claimant
would need to travel more than 75 miles to a hearing site in the HO's
jurisdiction, the ALJ will discuss with the Hearing Office Chief
Administrative Law Judge whether a case transfer is appropriate.

NOTE:

A change in mailing address is not sufficient to establish a change of
residence (e.g., a change of address to a P.O. Box does not establish a
change of residence).

In most instances, an HO is not required to develop a residence change
issue if the claimant does not submit evidence establishing a change of
residence. However, if a change in mailing address suggests that a
claimant may need to travel more than 75 miles to the hearing site, the HO
will usually contact the claimant or representative to verify the
residence address. The HO staff will document the contact on a Report of
Contact and associate the document with the file as an exhibit.

D. Claimant Requests Transfer of RH for Reasons Not Related to Change in Residence

If, for reasons other than a change in residence, a claimant requests a
change in the place of hearing to a location in another HO's jurisdiction,
the ALJ will evaluate the request using the good cause procedures in
HALLEX I-2-3-12
C.

NOTE:

In evaluating the issue, ALJs must consider whether the claimant objected
to appearing at a hearing via VTC. If the claimant did not object to
appearing in this manner, it may be more efficient in some instances to
conduct the hearing via VTC.